Hidden

Marchwood Vampires #1

by Shalini Boland

Falling in love has never been so dangerous...

Madison Greene is in foster care until one day she inherits a fortune, she inherits a house, she inherits a cellar full of danger.

Alexandre Chevalier lives in 19th century Paris. On an archaeological expedition, he discovers a lost underground city where his life changes forever.

A romantic supernatural adventure that spans the centuries.

Can a human save a vampire?

Genres: Vampires, Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Fiction

414 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2011

About the author

Shalini Boland is the USA-Today bestselling author of twenty psychological thrillers. With three million copies sold, her titles are published by Amazon Publishing, Audible, Bookouture, and Grand Central Publishing.

Shalini lives by the sea in Dorset, England with her family and their increasingly demanding dog, Queen Jess. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing (in between re-stocking the fridge and dealing with endless baskets of laundry).

She is also the author of two bestselling SFF series.

www.shaliniboland.com

Now available:
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
THE HONEYMOON
THE SCHOOL REUNION
THE SILENT BRIDE
THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
A PERFECT STRANGER
THE FAMILY HOLIDAY
THE COUPLE UPSTAIRS
MY LITTLE GIRL
THE WIFE
ONE OF US IS LYING
THE OTHER DAUGHTER
THE MARRIAGE BETRAYAL
THE PERFECT FAMILY
THE SILENT SISTER
THE CHILD NEXT DOOR
THE SECRET MOTHER
THE MILLIONAIRE'S WIFE
THE BEST FRIEND
THE GIRL FROM THE SEA
The OUTSIDE SERIES - a thrilling dystopian adventure
The VAMPIRES OF MARCHWOOD series - a romantic fantasy adventure
A SHIRTFUL OF FROGS - an evacuee timeslip adventure

Reviews

[Courtney Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when I think I'm over vampire books they SUCK ME BACK IN!

Basically what happened was I this: I browsed some indie titles and - after reading the synopsis - just gave the woman my money.

I'm sorry - a girl inherits house with a basement full of "danger" sounded like such a simplistic/brilliant way to just get into the action without so much pomp and pretext! Seriously, sometimes the direct approach just works wonders on my wallet.

So HIDDEN is exactly what it says on the tin and - because of that basic hook and plot - gets to really invest in a) character development, b) establishing beautiful scenes, c) provide snappy humor, in and out of dialogue. Reading this reminded me that sometimes books get bogged down with world-building and mythos. While it's usually amazing when an author gets to explore the method to whatever madness their story is set in it also can get exhausting to absorb. That was why it was sort of refreshing that HIDDEN wasn't trying to be something other than just itself and it's all the more charming for that.

Madison is a protagonist for readers who appreciate a little brash and crass. She has "screw-up" practically stamped on her head but Shalini Boland gives her enough redeemable qualities and good intentions to make her relateable and vulnerable in various places.

All that held back a 5-star review was the random, unannounced shifts in POV between narrators. I'm sure authors intend for this to be a streaming flow of consciousness or seamless shift to other pertinent information but for me it's like walking down the sidewalk, catching my toe on a crack and desperately grabbing my barrings. Those shifts kept jarring me out of the story, which always gets irksome for me whenever I read.

Beyond that, HIDDEN is great for what it is - teen vampire romance. It is edgy without getting too trashy. It's romantic without being super sappy. It doesn't think it's funny or try to be - it just is. And - topping it all off - some of the descriptions and turns of phrase are so eloquent, vivid and/or clever it's a truly impressive show compared to the usual plain-talk and prose found in YA.

I highly recommend HIDDEN if you have a soft-spot for books like TWILIGHT or THE VAMPIRE DIARIES but appreciate less swooning and sassier protagonists.

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew falling in love could be so dangerous!

Told in two timelines, Hidden is a gripping YA paranormal romance where a seventeen year old girl and a vampire fall in love.

19th Century Paris

Alexandre Chevalier is a handsome and charming young man. He is flirtatious and fun loving but takes things a little too far and ends up on an archeological dig with his parents. It is where he will find an underground city that will change his life forever.

In the present

Madison Greene is a seventeen-year-old in foster care along with her younger brother, Ben. On the verge of being kicked out of her foster home, she learns that she and her brother have inherited an estate in the English Countryside. Marchwood will be her new home and it is there in the basement where her life will change forever.

This is the first book in a YA paranormal romance series that I sped through as I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I love the two timelines but especially the time in the past when Alexandre and his family are on a quest to find a hidden city. I found that section to be gripping and intriguing. In the present day, Maddie gets almost a Cinderella story where she suddenly has her life changed by an unknown inheritance and things get better for her.

I thought this was a great YA book that readers of all ages can enjoy. It's both light and dark but never too scary. I enjoyed getting to know the two main characters along with those in their lives.

This is the first book in the series and Boland left me wanting more. If you have read Boland's books before, this is a departure for her but a very enjoyable one. You will want to sink your teeth into this!

#HIDDEn #NetGalley #Secondsky #ShaliniBoland

Thank you to Second Sky and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com

[Kimberly R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Madison Greene and her brother Ben are two foster kids who inherit Marchwood House. Downstairs in the basement is a hidden locked door she discovers. She busts the door open and finds Alex, a centuries old vampire who is also the hottest guy she’s ever seen. Sparks fly and love is in the air but their romance is soon to be tested because men are hunting Alex.
This book was a really good read. It is the first book in a 3 book series. I can’t wait to read the others. Thanks NetGalley and Second Sky for this ARC that will be released March 21, 2023!

[Suzy Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, without doubt, one of the best YA novels I have ever read. I just couldn't put it down. I loved the combination of the past and the present intertwined with mystery and romance and downright spookiness!
I can't wait to read the sequel.
If you haven't bought yourself a copy of this book, then do it NOW. It's AWESOME!!

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story written in two timelines. In 1881 a family travel to Turkey on an Archaeological excavation and find an ancient tomb with unexpected inhabitants.
In present day Madison a seventeen year old foster child and her twelve year old brother inherit a mansion and millions of pounds from a distant relative.
When they move into the mansion they make a surprising discovery.
This is a YA novel with some good characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky Publishers for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah Dalton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, it's just a great, escapist book. When I picked it up I didn't know much about it except that it was about vampires. I didn't realise it was going to be like a mixture of Dracula and Twilight.

This is a new twist on the vampire lore, whilst at the same time maintaining the dark suspense from traditional vampire books. My favourite parts were in Turkey, where there were dark and mysterious moments that are actually quite scary!

Madison is a very cool main character who one day gets to live the dream. I think many of us have fantasised at least once about some distant relative we didn't know about leaving us a ton of money and a gorgeous old house, well this actually happens for sixteen year old Madison and she and her brother move into Marchwood, which puts Downton Abbey to shame, with her little brother. Things are perfect, or so she thinks. There's just one catch... the dangerous secret hidden in the cellar...

A must read for vampire fans!

[Karin Nott (page after page) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Many Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing the digital review copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Have you ever read a book, started the first chapter and just knew that this not the book for you? Unfortunately, this was definitely not the book for me. I don’t want a review where I just point out all the things that I found wrong with this book, but let’s just say I stopped reading when I realised the female protagonist of this book, is only 16. I’m sorry but this is just wrong, please stop normalising children in these situations.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like a good vampire story and the first half of this book really held my attention. Set in 1881 and the archaeological dig where it all began was captivating. Unfortunately the second half of this book set in the present was unbelievable and I like my vampires to have teeth. If you liked the Twighlight saga this book is for you. The start of a new trilogy, do I want to read more? A reluctant vampire not for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Lizzie McNally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed an addictive vampire book and this was a great first book of what is going to be a fab series

[Just Jules and her Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vampires with a total different twist then the average books today. Hidden draws you in. There's archaeology, want to be scientist, much more. It's way different then the average vampyr storyline today.
HIDDEN breaks with Transylvanian tradition by placing the vampires deep under the soil of Cappadocia where two archaeologists take their families excavating in 1881, triggering off a series of terrifying adventures. Alex and his family are on an adventure of a lifetime. This adventure changes things once they uncover things in those caves they never new existed.
Modern day, Maddy and her brother lose it all and are orphaned only to find something they never new they had Marchwood Estates.
An iron door in the cellar hides secrets over a hundred years old and through a series of chilling events, the story of the Cappadocian expedition is pieced together along with its impact on Maddy and Alexandre's lives. Together they discover each other and it's one hell of a ride.
I loved how the author added folklore of the times and era. It pulls you in even more. It moves between multi POV to explain the history and the story. The author does this effortlessly with great flow in the book. It draws you into her world.

[Faye Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's something deliciously dark in the cellar of a creepy old house that hoodie tearaway Madison Greene inherits. Bricked up behind a centuries-old wall, she discovers room full of vampires. That alone would be enough, but Shalini Boland packs so much intrigue into this book I found it unputdownable. It's got romance, genuine terror and a breathtaking pace which makes you feel you're in a blockbuster rather than a book. Consequently, I spent many a late night immersed in Madison's world when I should've been in the land of Nod. A triumph from cover to cover. Apparently it's a trilogy, which is great news because I'm hooked.

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m torn. This was a book that had me hooked in parts and feeling less enthusiastic in others. Although I enjoyed much of it, there were elements that felt too familiar, like I’d “been there, read that”.

In the beginning, the author does a great job of telling the story as if it were two separate books, using alternating points of view and experiences. She intertwines the past and the present in a very satisfying way, giving each character their fair share of time and attention. Some might feel that it takes too long to set up the story, but it was the set up that I found most fascinating. It held my attention and made me want to keep reading.

I felt myself very drawn to Alexandre’s story. His experiences in Paris and on the archaeological expedition in the 19th century were unique. It was a different world, a different time, and it stimulated my imagination. There was drama, mystery and humor, and Alexandre is an intelligent character who is well-rounded and written in a very endearing way. The cast of characters in his world felt very real and their relationships were interesting.

In contrast, Madison’s story felt less believable. Living in modern-day London in foster care, she discovers that a long-lost relative has left her money and a huge home. Now, I can buy that…I’m sure it happens to people…somewhere! But it’s the fact that she moves to this new home alone with her young brother and chooses to quit school that confuses me. She’s 16. How is this allowed to happen? Yes, I know…it’s a book and I should suspend judgement but this part of the plot dampened my enjoyment of the book just a little. Don’t get me wrong, Madison is a spunky character who looks at life in a unique way and stands up for what she believes in. She looks after her brother with motherly care and has a great curiosity about the world. She’s self-sufficient and smart. But she’s still just 16 and I’m not sure her circumstances and decisions are convincing enough for me.

Ultimately, this is a vampire story….well, a vampire love story. I like the fact that this vampire world is different from those I’ve read about lately. These vampires are more traditional in their heritage and characteristics…they’re more mythical and scarier. The love story, however, is not as unique. Usually the romance in a book brings out my girly side and I fall in love with the “falling in love”. However, in this book, this is exactly where I started to see familiar themes and felt a bit let down. Although the romance is well written, it’s just too predictable for me.

I must say that I was surprised by the ending! It was very unexpected…bringing back the uniqueness of the first half of the book. It definitely makes me curious about where the author will take the story next.

[Bookish Thais💌 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and mostly the author of this book for providing me with an Arc of this book in return for an honest review.

This book will be published on the 21st of March

Personally I recommend going into this book blind (without reading the book description aka the blurb

The plot
Going into this book I thought that It would be this romance between a vampire and a teenage girl, kind of like The Vampire Diaries, IT WAS NOT. But I'm honestly not complaining since I really enjoyed the plot of this book and how it wasn't that predictable since it kept switching between POVs and timelines. This book isn't exactly a romance book but a book about a teenage girl in foster care and a boy from the 19th century who end up meeting. It does take a while to understand what is happening since, again, it switches between the two's POVs and their timelines but, when they do, It is both cute and hilarious.


The Characters
Madison
Madison's character was written amazingly! She acted like this rebellious teen but this act was solemnly to protect herself and her younger brother from any harm and from their foster parents. It was very obvious that she was just a scarred girl who wanted the best upbringing for her younger brother whom she believed was her only family. Her foster family made me so freaking mad!!!


The both made me go absolutely feral but their characters just reflect true foster care and why a handful of people do it which shouldn't be acceptable .

Alexandre
Alexandre is a teenage boy from 1881 and when he causes a bit of an issue which goes against the social rules at a ball, he is forced to travel with his parents to Turkey. Since the two characters were speaking in completely different timelines (LIKE COMPLETELY) 1881 and the present, it was a bit confusing on how the two would cross passes since it takes about 75% of the book to get to the main plot. Even though it takes a while to understand, I was entertained with them switching POVs. I must say that I did imagine Alexandre as someone with old money vibes which I do like.


-------------------------------------------------------
I'm honestly looking very forward to the second book in this series and will definitely keep an eye out for it on NetGalley especially with how this book ended!

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that I am far from the target audience for this book which is aimed at the lower end of the YA range. I had a few eye rolling moments but on the whole enjoyed it. As often happens for me with dual timeline books, I enjoyed the historical time line more. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karin - per RFS
.
Cosa accade quando una giovane donna compie il suo diciassettesimo compleanno? In teoria nulla, attende i diciotto per ottenere la patente, bere alcolici e sentirsi grande! Beh, Madison Green non è una ragazza come tutte le altre, in primis perché la sua vita è stata un grande, angosciante tornado di difficoltà, considerando che lei e Ben (suo fratello minore) sono stati scaraventati da una casa famiglia all’altra dopo essere rimasti completamente soli. Famiglie affidatarie, e già uno pensa al peggio, non sono tutte disastrate per carità, ma spesso come nel caso di Mads i minori affidati devono essere buoni, carini, non dare problemi e rifocillare un pochino le tasche dei cosiddetti mamma e papà di turno. Come scoprirete, Maddy non è esattamente la classica adolescente tranquilla, per niente direi, ha un carattere forte e fatica a farsi mettere i piedi in testa e questo la spinge a ritrovarsi nei guai. Quando ti tocca crescere in fretta e assumerti tante responsabilità senza però avere il libero arbitrio su te stessa, non è facile! A volte però la ruota della fortuna gira, e ai suoi diciassette anni scopre di essere dannatamente ricca e insieme a Ben, eredita una mega villa con innumerevoli acri di terreno. Tutto sembra un sogno, quasi irrealizzabile, e dulcis in fundo per avere tutto questo immenso podere e un conto in banca da capogiro i due fratelli dovranno trasferirsi lì. Quale sarà la loro scelta? Che ve lo dico a fare, mollare tutto, genitori affidatari compresi, (beh, non a livello legale, son sempre due minorenni) e ricominciare da capo pieni di speranze. Marchwood House è la villa dei misteri, dietro ogni personaggio e angolo della dimora si cela un segreto, una tela amabilmente narrata dall’autrice che tra salti temporali (il 1881 e i giorni nostri) ci insinua nella mente dei protagonisti: Madison e il nostro super vampiro sexy (sono indecisa se dirvi o meno il nome, perché fino a un certo punto della lettura non avevo compreso davvero chi fosse… quindi taccio! Vi lascio la sorpresa).

È un libro particolare, molto intrigante, caratteristica che ho apprezzato considerando che mi aspettavo il classico paranormal romance molto dolce e fantastico. La chiave di lettura thriller, quindi, penso che sia un valore aggiunto; ho invece avuto qualche difficoltà nella prima parte del romanzo, in cui il ritmo di lettura è più lento, vi sono molti indizi e dettagli che vanno compresi e che non permettono di sfogliare le pagine alla velocità della luce come capita in altre letture. A un certo punto però molte cose diventano chiare e lì ti senti completamente invasa dalle anime antiche dei vampiri nascosti in Marchwood House, discendenti alla lontana da un Dracula per intenderci, per quanto me ne ricordano la riverenza e classicità; più dolci e sensibili alla Edward di Twilight.

Ho amato Mads e Ben, la loro vita mi ha commossa, viene lasciato grande spazio per i sentimenti e il loro legame che emerge in ogni occasione; il protagonista maschile (sempre per non fare nomi) è affascinante e colpisce ma non sono entrata in modo altrettanto profondo nella sua psiche.

Un paranormal di tutto rispetto, con momenti di tensione al limite del brivido e tanto amore! Un amore che sfugge al tempo, tra un umano e un essere sovrannaturale che sprizza occhi a cuoricino ovunque.

Una scrittura perfetta, fluida con descrizioni accurate e dialoghi sempre sul pezzo, pov alternati e salti temporali che ne caratterizzano la narrazione.

E ora? Il secondo capitolo uscirà a brevissimo, ho saputo, quindi è ora di iniziare la lettura per tutti!

[Sharon Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy reading a story that encompasses two different timelines. To me, this makes it much more interesting. We know there is a connection and the intrigue is in trying to work out how they connect. Hidden is no exception. I loved reading about Paris in 1881 and the two families journey to Turkey. Alongside that, I also loved reading about Maddie in the present day. Each timeline has its crisis point until the timelines merge.

The characters are brilliantly portrayed. The leads, Maddie and Alexandre just took up residence in my life and I couldn’t stop thinking about them, even when I wasn’t reading about them. Maddie is so down to earth and caring despite the trauma of her father leaving during her mum’s pregnancy with Ben … and then her mum’s death when she was eight after which she spent so many years in care homes and foster care. She still has a fear about the world she lives in but it doesn’t paralyse her – she is a very strong character. Alexandre is HOT. Scorching hot! Besides his physique, there is a lot to endear him to the reader. Boland lets the reader right into his psyche and it’s interesting to watch his arrogance in 1881 and then his vulnerability in the present day. The characters on the periphery are all solid. I didn’t like solicitor Vasey-Smith from the very first moment he entered the story and even though he did everything right for Maddie I sensed something underlying in his character. He was way too smooth…

Alexandre and Maddie’s love is very refreshing. Maddie’s feelings begin with awe, change into anger and hatred and finally develop into something stomach churning and bone melting (in a good way!) Despite the depth of her feelings there is also an innocence about it all. Their relationship doesn’t get started till quite a way through the story and I’m so looking forward to seeing how this develops in the second book.

The environment is very apt for a paranormal read. The estate in Tetbury is isolated with only the Morris’ as caretakers for Maddie and Ben. In Turkey, the exploration and then discovery of the underground city is full of tension. Quite a lot of activity takes place in ‘basements’ without light but with shadows. Even when the timelines merge, at crisis points outside of Marchwood, they are full of tension. It’s not all ‘dark’ though as this is balanced by the romance!

Hidden is not your average vampire story. The vampires themselves are not your usual run-of-the-mill type. It’s hard to say why they are different as its all a part of the weave and weft in the tale but it does cause an anomaly, which is quite central to the final crisis. This crisis is very dramatic and nail biting which I loved! The tension, fear, relief, then tension, fear and hope repeated is a double whammy.

Boland’s writing carried me along and allowed me to experience many emotions in this world she has created.

I would definitely recommend Hidden if you like YA, paranormal romance or vampires. Even if this isn’t your usual genre, I think you may well be surprised. At only £1.99 on Kindle (Amazon) at the time of my review, my recommendation is to buy a copy for yourself.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hidden is the first book in the Marchwood Vampire Series by Shalini Boland. This story is a breath of fresh air in the young adult paranormal genre. Spanning centuries and continents, this lively story takes us on an intriguing journey of discovery and horror that you don't want to end. The story follows Madison Greene and her brother Ben, as their lives take a dramatic turn for the better. Moving out of foster care into their own home and immense wealth. But along with the wealth comes responsibility and intrigue. In this tale we see the past merge with the present in a chilling and exciting way, as Madison searches for answers and finds them from the most unexpected person ; Alexander Chevalier whom just happens to be a vampire.


The characters within the novel come to life and jump right off the page, I found myself easily immersed in the story from the late Victorian era of Alexandre's journey to Cappadocia, where he and his family unlock pure evil, then submerged into Madison's world of dealing with the present. The characters have depth and are very well rounded, along with the supporting characters that bring more insights and comical humor to the story. The love story is very well portrayed and done tastefully and well suited for a young adult audience. I found myself once again caught up in the feelings of first love.


This book is extremely well written and I was very impressed with the author's ability to tell two stories in completely different styles of writing; late Victorian for Alexandre's story, and present day for Madison's. She did a fantastic job and both stories flowed well throughout the entire book to merge into a great ending. One of the things I really enjoyed about this novel, was the author's ability to create terrifying and chilling scenes within the book. She led me through my own imagination as my mind brought up images of what was taking place. Much to my surprise I might add since I love gritty detail. The author also had a way with humor as the characters interacted in a truly comical way when Alexandre a Victorian Noble tries to find is way in the modern world.


All in all this book was a great read and I recommend it to anyone who loves a good vampire story. This is a unique tale that stands out among the rest due to the author's wonderful storytelling and her fresh new perspective on Vampires. I am looking forward to reading the next book in series "Thicker than Blood, Book 2" I give this book 4.5 Stars!

Reviewed for DarkissReads. www.darkissreads.com

[C.S. Einfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

HIDDEN by Shalini Boland is a YA paranormal romance that delivers, and then some. Madison Greene is the Goth girl we all secretly (or not so secretly), want to be: tough, cool, smart. She's also dealing with some very serious issues: foster-care, borderline-abusive adults, and keeping her little bro, Ben, safe and as carefree as possible in a very dodgy environment. Now, throw in a cadre of ancient, breathtakingly beautiful vampires, and the stage is set for intrigue to ensue.

So far, we've covered some of the things you might expect in the genre but, here are some things that I think make Hidden a cut-above:

- The history of the Vampires. It's hard to detail too much without including any spoilers but, let's just say, their story, all on its own, would be enough for me to recommend this book. Boland masterfully weaves snippets of RL Turkish history and the magnificent Cappadocian caves with a new twist on traditional Vampire lore. I'm impressed, and now I need to visit Turkey.

- Alexandre. Yes, yes, he's beautiful, and powerful, and all things sexy as every good vampire hottie should be. But, he's also achingly vulnerable. He needs Maddy as much as she needs him and together, they complete each other. Again, Boland knocks the romance side of the story out of the park.

- The Intrigue. There were parts of the story where I found myself really miffed with Ms. Boland. Not because she failed to engage me, but because I really needed to put HIDDEN down to go off to take care of other RL obligations, but couldn't! WHAT is behind that cellar door? WHAT is buried under the Turkish desert? WHO is screaming and WHAT are they screaming AT??? That's just a partial list, but you get the point. Is this book a bona-fide "page-turner"? Yes, indeed it is.

So, with that, a hearty FIVE STAR recommendation from me. :o)

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having discovered Shalini Boland through her new adult psychological thriller The Girl from the Sea (which I devoured in a day) I thought I'd try one of her YA books (with a choice of post apocalyptic series or vampire series I went for the latter).
Hidden surprised me, it's been a while since I've read anything YA and although I've been known to watch vampire programmes on tv I've not read vampire books.
The book starts written from two characters perspectives Madison in the present time and Alexandre in 1881.
I liked the timeline split, the modern day foster care lifestyle of Madison in comparison with the rich Victorian era feel of Alexandre in France who then travels with his family on an archeological dig.
Later on as Madison and Alexandre's timelines cross it then continues with both characters in the present time.
I was surprised by how long the vampire link took to be added to the story by then I had read so much about Madison and Alexandre I was already connected to their characters and wanted to read more.
It was a far less gruesome read than I had imagined it would be (being about vampires I'd imagined lots of bloodthirsty scenes) which actually was quite refreshing and actually had a feel of a time travel romance about it in places. It had some interesting twists and though it could be read as a stand alone novel I know there are two further books in this series and I'm intrigued to find out what will happen next and get to know additional characters better.
Overall a good read, and a series I will continue with

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Updating this (sorry Shalini for the delay)

This was a really great YA Paranormal Romance. It starts out a bit slow because the author is catching you up to how/why it all started so there is some past mixed with the present but the author does a great job. The paranormal part doesn't start right away (maybe halfway through the book?) but you can tell it creeps up on the paranormal aspect from the storyline and what's going on.... you know there's something there but you don't know what. When it finally happens you're like "Oh, that's where it was going." it makes perfect sense. Even without the paranormal elements in the first half of the book it still kept my attention with intrigue and surprises. I'm more of an adult paranormal romance girl but I can enjoy YA once in awhile and I really enjoyed this one by the author.

If you enjoy a bit of mystery, romance, intrigue, Paranormal give this book a try. I like how the vampires come into play...its not like normal vampire books where one guy swoons/bites one girl and converts her...no, its a bit more dark and mysterious than that. Give Shalini a try :)

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did like this overall, but whilst reading it there were parts I liked and parts I didn't like.
* The story seemed to drag in places, and the vampires didn't even come into it until the 50% mark.
* I wasn't really sure that Harold would be nothing but bones. Okay, he died like 92 years ago, but if he's been in a sealed room all that time, surely there'd be something else left? Like some leathery skin or something?

I don't know. I did like this overall, but there were points when I wasn't enjoying it quite so much.

[Rachael Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I was completely hooked, captivated from beginning to end! I love the way that both of the stories develop and draw you into the mystery, both are told in such an engaging and interesting way that they really held me. I loved the characters and their escapades, the depth of relationships and the absolute "edge of the seat" suspense. Brilliant! I could confidently say that once you start reading Hidden you will not want to put it down!

[Peter Boland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books you just have to keep reading. The number of times I was tired next day at work because it'd kept me up until the early hours. It's a wonderful, wonderful adventure that starts off in mundane urban life and then catapaults you so hard you nearly get whiplash. Madison is great, and so is Alexandre. What's amazing is how the author gives us an original twist on the vampire novel. Beautiful, beguiling, haunting, creepy and unputdownable!

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow starter, but this turned into an excellently written vampire adventure, probably one for older teens due to the content in places but a fantastic read and a refreshing change to some of the recent vampire fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading the rest of the series

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Wow!!! story. A must read. Can't wait for the next book.

[Célia Blomgren · Rating 2 out of 5]

je pensais que cette histoire me plairait, au final je l’ai trouvé très ennuyante et les personnes… meh.

[Mara YA Mood Reader]

Free on Kindle April 7, 2023

[LJ (ljwritesandreviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up from 3.5

Hidden is a young adult vampire romance, told in two timelines, 1881 and the modern day.

In modern day England, Madison is an orphan, her only family is her younger brother Ben. On her seventeenth birthday, she finds out that she's inherited Marchwood Manor, along with a whole load of cash. It's a dream come true, but Madison is wary after her upbringing in the foster care system. She discovers there is a catch: sleeping vampires are living in the house.

Both Alexandre and Madison are really likeable characters that I rooted for through the story.

Madison is damaged by the death of her mother and subsequent years in care, which makes her a bit prickly, but she shows her softer side with her younger brother Ben.

Alexandre is an impetuous person. His curiosity and headstrong nature has a tendency to get him into trouble. I really enjoyed the parts in the past focussed on him and how he became a vampire, which added a bit of action and tension to the story.

As this is the first book of the series, it spent a lot of time really setting up the story for the other novels in the series, so ‌it was a little slow paced in places but I loved the open ending that makes you want to know what happens next for Alexandre and Madison.

All three books are available now so I can easily see someone binge reading these novels!

If you're looking for a sweet vampire YA romance with a bit of adventure thrown in, then I'd highly recommend Hidden to you.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really, really wanted to like this book. I gave it 3 stars but I'm kind of thinking maybe it is only 2 and a half. Hidden seemed like it would be right up my alley. It has vampires, a snarky British teen, it goes back and forth with historical fiction and modern day London and it is a romance to boot. Sounds great! Then I read the reviews and so many people had such great things to say about this book! I thought I had found a winner for sure! I tried so hard to like this book. Even looking back now that I have finished it I am still feeling that I should like this book better than I did.

First of all I wish I hadn't known this was a vampire book going in to it. There is not even a single mention of vampires until you're about 30% in. If I had not known about the vampires I could have sat back and relaxed while I read this book and just let it take me where I needed to go. Instead I spent the first part of the book trying to figure out who were the vampires or where were the vampires. I overanalyzed every character and situation trying to see something that wasn't there.

My second issue is really just more of an annoyance to me but I don't think others were bothered by it based on their reviews. Up until a certain point the book is literally back and forth every other chapter between Alexandre in the 1800s and Maddy in modern day London. Eventually the two stories collide but until that happens it is literally two entirely unrelated stories. I really liked each of their stories however I had a hard time because by the end of a chapter I was so into the current characters time and story I was dreading reading the next chapter because I didn't want to change to the other character's time and story.

Ok. Now onto the vampire (yes, the one because basically there is only one vampire taking the center stage here). Why is Alexandre so freaking human? Yes I know he drinks blood, and is strong and almost indestructible but everything that is supernatural about him is only briefly mentioned here and there (aside from sunlight) and he seems like his character could have easily been replaced with a human teenage boy instead of a vampire and the story would not have suffered much.

The relationship between Maddy and Alexandre seemed very superficial even though they are supposed to be in an epic romance. There is no detail to the depth of their love. You read that they talk about everything and nothing but you never actually get to see any detail into what they talk about. Reading the relationship just makes me feel that Maddy is yet another teenage girl that cannot live without a guy. I know she seemed independent in the beginning but when you get to the point where she is in love it is all consuming but the author gives you nothing to go on as to why she is so madly in love.

Finally in the end we finally get to see some "vampire action" but it is so minimal and leaves so many things still unresolved. I get it, I know it is a series and I am supposed to read the other books to get some resolution to all the ends that were left open but I just don't think I can devote any more time to this series. I feel like I was really let down by this book and it makes me sad. There were so many elements that I really liked and it could have worked under other circumstances but for some reason this book just didn't.

Sorry about the rant, I didn't realize I had all that buried inside. I feel like I finally got asked out by a crush and when I was on the date I realized he wasn't the person I thought he'd be. The book isn't who I thought it was.